Last year there was an anime-related creative contest online. In it, you could enter up to three different categories including things such as holiday cards, confections or shorter stories. Normally I never enter these types of competitions as I often lack the creativity and skill required, often resulting in never actually giving it a chance in the first place. This time, however, I did decide to give it a go.

It was a lot more fun than I had anticipated!

After years of telling myself it’s not for me, it felt surprisingly engaging in trying to figure out how to approach the challenges. It became a puzzle of sorts as I tried to figure out my weaknesses while playing on my strengths… ultimately reaching the point where I just felt excited participating in the creative process itself. Even drawing and seeing the result felt rewarding despite the fact it’s always been one of my weaker points.

The competition is by now over and I have decided to publish my entries here on my blog. There are three of them – a Christmas drawing, a rewritten Christmas song and a short story related to last-minute Christmas shopping – and before each there is a brief foreword detailing my inspiration. I decided to base every entry on the manga Nisekoi as I felt it would be interesting to limit myself. Nisekoi also happens to be one of my favorites.

I hope you’ll enjoy them!

A Christmas Drawing – Saint Chitoge

Today mainly found in the Nordic countries, the 13th December is a staple of traditional celebrations and a memorable moment when you can feel that Christmas is really around the corner. Originally meant to honor the Christian martyr Saint Lucia (or Saint Lucy, as commonly referred to in English), it today is a day where choirs dress up in white – with a female lead wearing a wreath of candles – and sing various Christmas songs.

The idea came to be as it’s a Christmas tradition and adore. Chitoge from Nisekoi also has long blonde hair, which appropriately just so happens to be the traditional representation of Saint Lucia. Before drawing I looked up various images of Chitoge in order to see if there were any particular details outside of the signature ribbon I needed to take into account. One such detail, I discovered, was her small antennae.

I first ended up drawing a rough sketch with Chitoge wearing the traditional outfit. Afterwards I tried adding some lighter coloring using Paint, which turned out better than expected. Chitoge’s ribbon is worn around the waist rather than on the head due to the wreath of candles, but once again luck strikes as the traditional representation of Saint Lucia should wear a red sash. The sash itself ended up far too wide, which makes the proportions look off, but it’s something I’ve now learned.

Drawing has never been one of my strengths, yet I feel the result came out better than expected. I am happy with it.

A Christmas Song – Fairytale of Naoshi Komi

Based on the song “Fairytale of New York” by “The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl”, this rewritten text tells the story of how fans feel about Nisekoi and its author Naoshi Komi. More specifically, it’s about the infamous chapter 162. I highly recommend listening to the original song as you read the following lyrics, as it’s written to accommodate there being two voices singing and sharing their views much like its foundation. I’ve colored the text to make it easier to understand.

Lyrics:

It was Shipping Eve, man’On the InternetA 2channer wrote to me “won’t get another fan”And then he typed it allThe good old resumeI turned my face awayAnd dreamed about you

Got on a lucky oneCame from NEXT to JUMPI’ve got a feelingThis manga’s for me and youSo happy serializationI thank you readersI can see a brighter timeWhere cancellations don’t exist

There’s ribbons big as headsThere’s a harem of girlsBut the Double Arts’ no moreIt’s no time for the pastWhen you first took my glanceOn a cold November dayYou promised meGood times were waiting for me

You were charmingYou were loyalTop of Weekly Readers’ Poll
When the crowds finished reading
They yearned out for more
Volumes were shipping,
All the fools they were loving
We cheered in a corner
And heaved a sigh of relief

The editors of the Shueisha Inc.
Were drumming “Ba dum tss”
And the prints were making due
For Trolling Day

You’re a baitYou’re a switchYou’re a thankless otterHating over there but cannot stop coming back like the deadYou sellout, you cash cowYou cheap hit and run“Best Friends” status quoI pray gOda it’s your last

The editors of the Shueisha Inc.
Were drumming “Ba dum tss”
And the prints were making due
For Trolling Day

I could have been someoneWell so could anyoneYou took my time from meWhen I first read NisekoiI kept it with me, man’I got it on my ownCan’t do it all aloneI’ve built my fortune around you

The editors of the Shueisha Inc.
Were drumming “Ba dum tss”
And the prints were making due
For Trolling Day

A Christmas Short Story – Christmas Shopping Date Rush

The original purpose of this category was to write a story with crazy hijinks similar to the movie Jingle All the Way. Instead, I decided to tone it down and make it a story about simply going Christmas shopping at the last minute without too much of a rush. However, it must be noted that this is actually an unfinished story. At the time of the competition I was busy studying for exams, meaning there were more important things to do than trying to figure out how to expand upon the narrative.

This said, I still think it works quite well even if it is nothing more than an overly detailed script. The ideas came to me naturally as I tried to think about how a Christmas date between Raku and Chitoge could potentially go. In fact, they came almost too naturally. Trying to come up with cliché, silly and heartfelt scenarios was a lot more fun than I ever could’ve imagined and I think doing so has allowed me to understand how it must feel for Naoshi Komi to draw new chapters. This alone makes me wish I was better at drawing.

Perhaps I’ll one day try to complete this story.

Enjoy!

Title: Christmas Shopping Date Rush

The story is about Raku and Chitoge going on a date on Christmas (Day? Eve?). It takes place on the same day, or at least the day before, when presents are usually given. Note that Christmas is more of a romantic holiday in Japan and presents are mainly given to children. It does also occur otherwise, though, particularly between lovers or really good friends (I believe).

It starts with Chitoge texting Raku that she wants to go on a date. It turns out she wants to go on a last-minute Christmas shopping tour for a present to give to Tsugumi. She may or may not also have wanted to go on an actual date and, in addition, perhaps buy something for Raku too.

After a small intro with the text message is being sent, the scene cuts to a huge shopping mall in which most of the story will take place. Now an introduction of the characters takes place to ease in unacquainted with the general behavior, backgrounds and looks of the pair. The introduction is brief, but puts emphasis on the fact they may look normal on the outside they actually aren’t: they’re both from gang families, which forced them to pretend being lovers, and Chitoge herself is half-American (both which play important roles in the story).

Directly after said introduction the first spoken dialogue is Raku complaining about going on a date on Christmas as it’s a romantic holiday, not to mention they do it all the time. He also points out the fact that it’s odd how Chitoge hasn’t been able to buy a present for Tsugumi (which, naturally, mostly is an excuse for the date and to buy a present for Raku). Chitoge retorts with it being a surefire way to fool the gang families, plus it being more fun and easier to shop if two. Note: perhaps the introduction should come after this instead, as the complaining becomes a hook which is then followed up by a clarification. Moreover, it’d go from “prologue>introduction>scene1>scene2…” to “prologue>scene1>introduction>scene2…” which might be better as scene1 is rather short.

From here on they visit various shops in the aforementioned shopping mall. The specific shops aren’t decided, but perhaps a clothing shop would be fitting considering how Chitoge always wants Tsugumi to dress more femininely (such a shop would be a good way to spark chemistry or a potential misunderstanding between Raku and Chitoge). It’d be a good idea if Raku is the one first discovering the bought item, as he’d otherwise be a useless lump in terms of purchasing a gift. Originally Raku was meant to think of his crush Kosaki throughout the story, but as she, much like Tsugumi (other than being a friend), is never introduced – and doing so would bloat the story itself – it might be better to skip it. However, it’d be a good way to lead to a conflict due to Raku daydreaming thus doing something inappropriate and making Chitoge stereotypically punch him. She’d then use the gift to Raku as a way to apologize to him. It’d also lead to a more bittersweet ending and less of a cultural clash like the one detailed below.

Eventually the scene cuts and the two, having finally bought a present, are at the exit of the shopping mall. The sun is starting to set and as they are about to leave, Chitoge acts shocked and pretends to have forgotten to buy (for her father?) or do something. Raku offers to come with her, but she declines and says he should go home as it’ll be quick (she actually just doesn’t want him to come along). To make this work, it must’ve been noted somewhere along the date that Raku had stopped outside a particular shop – or at least eyed it every time they passed it – and said “it’s nothing/it’s not necessary” when Chitoge asked him what happened/if he wanted to go in/if he wanted to buy it.

The scene cuts yet again and now it’s either later the same day or the day after. Regardless, it’s at Raku’s home. The reason could be spending the evening together as part of the date or such. They greet each other, Chitoge thanks for Raku’s help and so forth. Well inside, Chitoge blushingly hands over her present in a similar tsundere fashion (perhaps noting Raku’s interest in the shop earlier). Raku is surprised and embarrassed, while trying to say he cannot accept it as he hasn’t bought anything. He had no idea Christmas presents were so important to Chitoge! Annoyed, she remarks it’s been a staple ever since she was a small child being half-American and all. Raku apologizes for being dense and, to turn down the intensity of the situation a notch, heaves a sigh – and naturally scratches his head – and gently accepts the present while thanking her with a smile. Inside is a set of cooking utensils for ramen related to the shop he looked at in the shopping mall (it was a heavily discounted promotional item on display).

The story does not end there. After Raku stops being really, really excited about his present (due to being a huge fan of cooking) he asks Chitoge to stay put for a while. She’s confusingly agrees as she has no reason not to. Raku leaves and a small skip in time occur. Raku enters the room with ramen he made himself using the Christmas present he received from Chitoge. As Chitoge, much like Raku, absolutely loves ramen – in fact, it’s her favorite food – she digs in with a really happy look on her face. Even if Raku had not bought her a Christmas present, he – much like she did to him – gave her something she loves and that only the two would know. The story ends.

(If this was actually drawn, you could have a final offhand panel with Chitoge’s dad being utterly confused by the present she bought (as in, she actually bought one in addition to Raku’s when splitting up))

(Going by above, perhaps changing it from Tsugumi to Chitoge’s dad as the main goal of the date could work to streamline and avoid potential confusion for newcomers – oh, the possibilities!)

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It has been four years since Anime Viking was created. With each passing year it becomes harder and harder to believe that I was once eighteen years old, still in high school and wet behind my years when this blog came to life. Looking through my older texts I realize that I may in fact have actually grown as a person whether I want it or not – the I from today is not the same as I from the past. Change is in itself a frightening aspect of life, but something one must come to accept in order to move forward however difficult it may be at times. The last year in particular has been a turbulent one on a personal level, but I hope and wish to have come out as a stronger person thanks to it.

Similarly, it hasn’t been a kind year to the blog itself. In 2015 it has only been updated once and even before that it was sparsely updated. There is no doubt that Anime Viking can be seen as an inactive, or possibly dead, blog at this point. This is an aspect I have reflected upon a lot lately in regards as to what should become of it.

To those of you who waited and hoped for updates that never came, I apologize wholeheartedly. Believe me when I say it has been just as difficult for me. I still stumble as I am writing this to a certain degree, particularly as I now feel a pressure to live up to what’s been written in the past and not to mention the few other well-written blogs that are still active. This has made me question whether or not Anime Viking has any value, which is something I still haven’t found the answer to.

What I do know, however, is that something would feel amiss without a blog. Without one there would be no outlet left to write longer texts and organizing my thoughts about anime. Yet, at the same time, the previous months have been filled with watching whatever and whenever with no regard as to what’s currently airing. I haven’t been active in online communities and am out of the loop with almost everything. Additionally, video games have been my primary source of entertainment rather than anime.

In the midst of all this I have been considering trying to write about video games, but ultimately decided not to as Anime Viking is an anime blog. Furthermore, I am just as out of the loop with video game communities as I am with anime ones, despite it being an area I am more confident in. In the end, this line of thinking has led me nowhere.

With all this being said, I will end this yearly update on a good note. Regardless of what will happen in the future, I do have a minimum of three blog posts I want to do before Anime Viking perhaps concludes or changes form. These are all tied to me on a personal level and while not necessarily unique, they’re all something I want to have created.

It has been quite a while since a post appeared on the blog, hasn’t it? Hopefully there are still some readers out there eager for some more stuff! Feeling a bit stiff when it comes to writing, I figured the best way to get it all started is to revisit my favorite anime of 2014! After this, I hope to slowly return to form.

Truth is, I haven’t seen a lot of anime lately. We’re a few months into the new year and I have only seen two new series, which is a new record for me. Instead, the time has been spent watching older, completed, anime whenever the urge has kicked in. As a result, it has made me feel rather distant to the anime community.

When it comes to the year 2014 in anime, my stance is that it has been a fine year. There has been a few standout series, but apart from them it has been more difficult to pinpoint any noteworthy.

That said, I would like to give some honorable mentions to Hanayamata and Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de. The former is your typical school series featuring girls forming a club – this time yosakoi – but it’s executed so well thanks to director Atsuko Ishizuka (Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo, No Game No Life) it becomes a joy to watch. The latter is surprisingly my favorite anime by Trigger (Kill la Kill, Inferno Cop) and is a random comedy about kids gaining superpowers while doing nothing but fool around with them.

I would also like to mention the movies Patema Inverted, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica: Rebellion and Tamako Love Story – especially the latter, which is a sequel to the mediocre and lifeless series Tamako Market. The premise to tell a love story sounds so impossible with the boring cast it has, but instead it works so perfect it’s almost magical. It’s a combination that shouldn’t work, yet works perfectly. Also, let’s not forget about the special episode called GJ-bu@ that’s a great, but ultimately fluff, sequel that only served to remind me how much I love GJ-bu.

One disclaimer to whoever ends up reading the list below: I have yet to watch Mushishi Zoku Shou. I did watch the special episode in the beginning of 2014, but the series I have not. Had I seen it, however, chances are high it would end up as my favorite anime of the year.

Nagi no Asukara

Nagi no Asukara is a strange beast. It’s a relatively long romantic drama that tends to be overly dramatic at times, yet I cannot help but love it. It is one of the very few anime that has made me actively engaged with it on a weekly basis, not to mention furiously ship characters with each other. Talking about doomed ships with @illegenes on Twitter has never been more emotionally devastating.

It also helps that the series boasts some great character development and is a visual treat, especially as I find the use of blue in a water and winter landscape utterly beautiful. To me, this was as much a great series as it was an experience.

Barakamon

This is the closest we will get an anime adaptation of Yotsuba. While Barakamon also tells the story of a young man doubting his future as a calligrapher, truth is it shines at most whenever it’s about hijinks starring the young and energetic kid Naru. She dominates the screen and has that sense of playfulness that can be difficult to portray, making it an utter charm to see whatever she comes up with next. Overall, one could say Barakamon is 2014’s feel-good anime.

“I do not get Psycho Pass. With the exception of the first episode the overall production was weak. Tons of still frames, a plot that went nowhere and characters that spouted deep quotes by famous people every time they were on screen. There was nothing thought-provoking, not any more than Kotoura-san or Maoyuu Maou Yuusha.”

With this in mind, why did I end up having such a great time with Psycho-Pass 2? Especially as it’s deemed awful by fans of the first season, something I later learned after having completed it. To this, I’m not exactly sure. Perhaps I was in the mood for dystopian action?

For one, I found the pacing much better. Spanning only eleven episodes this time around – all focusing on a single, larger, case – helped to give a sense of focus and urgency the predecessor lacked. Furthermore, it lacked the quasi-philosophical nonsense and instead mainly raised relevant questions when necessary and let the majority of interpretation up to the viewers. I immensely enjoyed the story itself, being a perfect series to marathon over the span of two days. It’s chockfull of small details and hints it keeps you on your toes, while also leaning heavier towards action than before. At the end, it all comes full circle and the obvious outcome plays out perfectly coherent within the rules of the universe.

The only conclusion I can reach, judging by the weekly discussions I ended up reading, is that viewers expected to be spoon-fed and were so angry they cried foul rather than wait for the next episode. At least that is the impression I got, anecdotal evidence be damned. I wish I had written a post about the story shortly after finishing it, as I have by now forgotten many important details to give anything more than general arguments as to why the events in Psycho-Pass 2 were perfectly logical.

Sadly, however great this sequel was, it will most likely end up redundant as the upcoming movie seems to ignore it completely. Great series, nonetheless! Plus, Akane is badass.

Silver Spoon 2

I was quite fond of Silver Spoon when it aired and even more so of this follow-up. Where the first season was all about establishing Hachiken’s character and finally coming to terms with his choice of attending an agricultural school (well, to a degree), this one is more about showing us how difficult a farmer’s life can be – so much Silver Spoon 2 eventually decides to kick out one of its characters from the cast!

Hachiken’s journey to find his path in life may be far from complete, but after this season you can clearly see a possible outcome for him. It may be open-ended with no sequel in sight, but is a satisfying conclusion that, much like the first season, manages to tell its own narrative arc. Shame the manga is still unlicensed in English.

Sword Art Online II

Sword Art Online was the worst anime I had seen in 2012 and I still stand by it. It is a complete mess in terms of narrative, so much even a competent visual production cannot save it. Jump forward to two years later and I really dug what Sword Art Online II had to offer. It was a complete opposite from before and here we are today, a moment when I call Sword Art Online II one of my favorite anime of the year – even better than Log Horizon.

How did things change so drastically? For starters, the story is much more competent this time around. Reki Kawahara is a person I deem interesting and would love to learn more about, as this is the first time I so clearly have encountered a writer in constant growth. It was already obvious between the first two arcs in Sword Art Online, but the jump is much further when you look at Sword Art Online II.

The stories themselves may not be particularly noteworthy, but the execution is simple and to the point. It’s the type of easy-to-swallow stories that really appeals to me when they work, which is the only decent way for me to describe how I feel. In Gun Gale Online, Kirito is tasked with finding a murderer. There, simple! Even more so when you look at the execution: no fluff, no overly philosophical musings… just a cool action story. Now, particularly Gun Gale Online does suffer from a slightly jarring backstory that borders on a retcon, but that is luckily the biggest offender this time around.

My favorite arc is no doubt Mother’s Rosario, which follows Asuna and the new character Yuuki as they try to defeat a floor boss (No Kirito!). It’s such a well-told arc that comes full-circle with everything we have learned throughout Sword Art Online and Sword Art Online II (so much, it even changes the perception of the very first arc of the franchise!). Apart from being a great story in itself, it’s also because of a highly personal reason I hold it as a highlight of the year. I cannot shed any details as not to spoil the moment, but it made me remember a very emotional time from four years ago. I once experienced the very thing that transpires in the story and its portrayal is nothing but perfect. It mimics it so perfectly I could not help but cry my heart out. At this point, it was clear to me that yes, Reki Kawahara does understand video games after all.

Knights of Sidonia

I’ve longed for a good sci-fi story in ages and I finally got one that engaged me. In full CGI, no less! Yes, you read that right. Knights of Sidonia is all computer-animated, everything from vehicles, backgrounds to characters. But it works! The lighting and rough look helps create very unsettling vibes to remind me how empty and vast space actually is. It’s also used to great extent in order to create scenes that wouldn’t be possible with traditional animation, something that creates intense scenes and gruesome alien confrontations.

Love it.

… which reminds me the second season should be airing by now!

Hanamonogatari

I must admit these Monogatari OVAs we receive every now and then – Nekomonogatari: Kuro, Hanamonogatari and Tsukimonogatari – are much more appealing to me than the full seasons. I cannot put my finger on why this is the case, apart from them being more visually polished. If anything, it’s because I end up watching all of the episodes at once. This creates a focused and pleasantly bit-sized approach to the stories. They also happen to be strong stories in themselves, with Hanamonogatari being one of the strongest in the franchise. Simply put, more Monogatari is a good thing.

Space Dandy

Pure creativity spread over the course of 26 episodes. A new episode means a completely new story with a completely new team behind the wheel. From musicals, to space ramen, to racing, to… anything! There are no limits apart from a cat, robot and dandy in space. What amazes me is how many of episodes I still remember, whether it’s the best or worst ones. That, in itself, is noteworthy.

No Game No Life

No Game No Life is dumb. It’s smug. It’s highly sexualized. It’s a great example of what not to show anime skeptics.

But… it’s so much fun. It’s so insane. It’s so intense. It’s so entertaining. I cannot even bring myself to defend my love for it. All I hope is for a second season. Pretty please?

Hunter x Hunter (2011)

This is it. It’s the shounen anime to recommend. It’s been three long years, but what a blast it has been. Despite having ended over six months ago (time passes quickly!), it still feels strange to not have a weekly episode of Hunter x Hunter to look forward to. This is the longest weekly series I’ve followed. I could write a lengthy text as to what makes Hunter x Hunter so dang good, but in this case you’re better off heading to Guardian Enzo’s blog “Lost in America: Anime & More” on which he currently has written a whopping 199 posts on the series!

All I can do is to give a huge thank you to everyone involved making this adaptation a possibility. May there be one day you’re able to animate more.

Yama no Susume 2

How do I put it? Yama no Susume 2 is very personal and dear to me, as written before. It has potentially affected my life, making me remember an event from the past and an urge to pursue it (which, as a side-note, Honey and Clover also helped achieve).

Climbing, hiking and camping. These are all things I have not really done outside of more casual occasions, yet those times live on as warm memories inside of me. Despite being years ago since I last did any of these, my fondness remains the same as if it was yesterday. If possible, I would like to give them a try again – especially in the case of climbing or hiking.

The more casual strolls, which could barely be labelled hikes, have been when I’ve travelled to Hawaii, mostly following some easy and touristy trails. It could either be through a forest or upwards a mountain, but it was never anything particularly challenging other than not wearing yourself out in the heat. If I go there again I would love to explore some more difficult places.

In high school, however, we once did an excursion. It was a terrible day by all means, being just a few weeks into the first year when nobody knew each other. Furthermore, we had to travel a bit by bicycle in so-so weather conditions and were later divided into two groups – one more or less being placed in a swamp and the other on refreshing meadows. Guess which one I ended up in!

Before heading home, however, the teacher told us to come with her on the final part of the excursion. Nobody knew exactly what it would be about beforehand, only that we needed durable clothes and possibly some food. It turned out we were supposed to climb up a mountain!

It was by no means a long or challenging feat, but it was incredibly fun. First you had to make your way through some tight tunnels before eventually reaching a vertical wall requiring you to climb using a rope. When we were all on top of the cave, or the very small mountain depending on the label, we sat down and had something to eat while enjoying the view over the forest with the sun about to set in the distance.

That moment alone really whet my appetite for further climbing or hiking adventures. Sadly, this is very hard to come by in Sweden as they are few and far between if you want spectacular views. Caves are easier to come by, and while also fun, they are simply not the same thing.

This is one of the reasons why I would like to travel to Japan one day, however ridiculous it may sound. Japan is a very mountainous country and there are a lot of possibilities to either hike or climb, often ranging from easily accessible to more difficult ones. One mountain I would like to climb in particular is the famous Mount Fuji and see the sunrise, as it would be an unforgettable experience that would hopefully satisfy my hunger created during the excursion in high school. Mount Fuji seems to be the perfect choice as it is not excessively demanding while still requiring some tenacity.

As a result of this, the short story in Yama no Susume 2 where the main characters climb precisely Mount Fuji excited me. The whole series manages to capture the joy of hiking and climbing, so it reminds me a lot of what I felt during the excursion. It also helps how well-produced it is overall, having multiple episodes done by individual persons, and often boasts breathtaking views. Yama no Susume 2 makes me want to go out on an adventure right here and now.

Welcome to the NHK is a special anime. It follows the university dropout Satou as he is forced to face the reality of having become a hikikomori – a shut-in. With neither job nor employment, Satou is living off his parents’ allowance and is slowly growing more out of touch with reality by each day. Author Tatsuhiko Takimoto has himself gone through (is going through?) a period of being a hikikomori and it shows, while being difficult to put into words as my knowledge of this type of social anxiety disorder is limited at best.

What appeals to me is not necessarily the story itself, but rather its characters. They are flawed and do not always make the correct choices; in fact, there are times when I am actually slightly frustrated at them. “Why are you doing THAT?!”, I often found myself thinking while also realizing how attached I had grown.

The choices made almost seem comical to a degree, but they are all the more real in Satou’s warped mind. It feels as if they were created by someone not only having experienced similar things, but also by a person who has gained perspective. This perspective allows for punches in the gut – without being too cynical – and still being able to present the harsh reality many suffer from in a thoughtful manner.

As said earlier, it is incredibly difficult to put what makes me like Welcome to the NHK into words. All I know is that it is a fascinating story that completely absorbed me in the span of a few days, only wishing for every character’s well-being. It is often painful to watch and is not a happy experience, but it is no doubt a memorable one I will remember for a long time.

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I had a blast watching No Game No Life. It spews energy out of the computer screen and grabbed my attention within the first few minutes and didn’t let go until it ended. With each new episode is manages to outdo itself in mere zaniness and its humor appears never quite when you expect it to, often resulting in it being all the more hilarious.

The episode that encapsulates the spirit of No Game No Life is the sixth, in which a game of materialization shiritori takes place. I will not give any details as to what happens and I urge you readers to go watch it (and the series) right now.

Yasuhiro Yoshiura is probably one of my favorite anime directors. He has created works such as Pale Cocoon, Time of Eve and most recently Harmonie. What makes his creations so compelling is how they have a rather distinct, almost mundane, style to sci-fi storytelling.

He explores grand concepts by utilizing smaller scenarios, which is especially seen in Time of Eve. It takes place in the future where robots and androids are commonplace, but rather than aiming big the story takes place in a small café bearing the titular name. Here, the concepts of humanity and androids are explored at ease with no right or wrong.

This is why Patema Inverted is such an interesting change from Yoshiura’s typical approach. The ideas are still there and as fascinating as ever, but they are never allowed to be the main focus. Instead, they are there constantly lying in the background and complementing the story – becoming an integral part of it – allowing for a more traditional love story unfold.

Instead, they are constantly lying in the background and acting as the foundation – becoming an integral part of the world – allowing for a more traditional love story to unfold. Rather than discussing these in great detail, they are merely always there as accepted facts.

What I love about Patema Inverted is how the main idea is more or less terrifying when put into perspective: there are people who have their gravity inverted, meaning they’ll fall straight up into the sky unless stopped. Every scene where the young inverted Patema has the vast sky below her I cannot help but fear for her life, as a little slip would make her fall down (up?) and meet her doom. The directing in Patema Inverted is as excellent as ever and utilizes this to a great extent, making more or less every scene nerve-racking.

Imaginably, this fear comes from the fact that while I find the sea mesmerizing, I cannot help but feel scared if I were to be put into the middle of nowhere with nothing but an endless abyss below of me. While the sky in Patema Inverted may lack disturbing deep-sea creatures, it still manages to give me the same feeling of utter helplessness.

In November this year I stumbled upon a blog I had encountered once before, but forgotten the name of (it’s excellent and I highly recommend following it!). On it, I discovered a well-written piece about Kokoro Connect and the main character Iori Nagase called “Kokoro Connect: A Glass Half-Empty”.

I found reading this fairly engrossing, as it was the first time someone had discussed the series from Iori’s perspective and shed light on something that may had gone overlooked. The text itself was so interesting it spurred me to rewatch the final arc of Kokoro Connect, which I initially had problems with when released.

Without delving too deep into specifics, the final arc is called Michi Random and its main idea is transmitting emotions between the main characters. A simply idea at first glance, but it allows room to understand the inner thoughts of each member of the cast. It is in this arc we see the facade of Iori break down, something that was hinted at from early on in Kokoro Connect.

Many, I included, could not fully understand this shift in tone, however, and found it jarring. Rewatching this particular arc, however, I can now see where Iori is coming from. I can, to a degree, relate to her issues and no longer find the change sudden. After having gained a new perspective I today see her in another light, which is amazing in itself. Her behavior throughout all arcs now felt more organic with good reasons as to why. All thanks to a little blog post.

It should be noted I that it was very difficult for me to actually finishing Michi Random – so much I had to take a break halfway through. I was at one of my lowest points in recent time and seeing all my bottled up feelings viciously unleashed on the computer screen in front of me felt terrible. It did not either help that I ended up skimming through earlier episodes and saw a nervous breakdown, something I had experienced myself as of late. Once again, I saw Kokoro Connect in a different light than I once had.

Honey and Clover is a peculiar anime. It was one I was almost always recommended and told I would love by avid fans. Years passed and I eventually watched it shortly after having started studying on university level, a very fitting choice as it takes place in a college setting with adult characters. Indeed, I don’t think there ever would’ve been a better time to watch it.

To describe Honey and Clover would be futile as it is unlike every other anime I’ve seen. Perhaps it is thanks to its adult characters and college setting. Perhaps it is how there are no easy solutions to problems. Perhaps it is because it does not follow a straight line in storytelling, instead embracing the meandering nature and finding something meaningful to tell in in exactly that. Or perhaps it is due to how it is about life itself and how it all just sort of happens whether you are prepared or not.

There is a certain sense of adolescence and melancholic atmosphere that at times feel very real. The way music is heavily integrated into the series helps create a rather nostalgic sensation of a time that may have taken place in your life. It makes me think of all my worries about the future.

One particular part in Honey and Clover that struck a chord with me was at the end of the first season, where the character Takemoto rides on a bicycle throughout Japan in hope of discovering something – a meaning to life and his existence. His friends have long left him behind and found their purposes and goals, however Takemoto has not. What does he wish to do with his life? What does he need to do in order to discover that? Will be become stronger if he does? He does not even know himself.

I am currently a Takemoto. I am lost in life. Slowly, but surely, I am seeing those around me growing more confident in their aspirations or even working their way through them. All this while I am left behind, not knowing what to do with myself. I will ultimately work my way through university, but for what reason? And then I cry.

It has been tempting to do something, by my standards, foolish in order to escape this feeling of emptiness. Stop studying and travel abroad. Get a job. Switch to studying something completely out of left field. Or, as Takemoto, take my bicycle and travel across the country. The latter is something I was close to doing, as it felt very liberating when I once ended up completely lost far from the city centre. It would be a bicycle and I on a journey, even if it would be nothing more than a pitiful escape from reality rather than a solution to the problem.